Old Stratford - Knotwood Farm

Knotwood Farm 1972
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Knotwood Farm
Knotwood Farm
Year   Age Occupation Where born County
1841 Joseph Day 45 Farmer
N
  
1851 James Rendall 70 Farm Baliff Syresham Northamptonshire
1901 William Robinson 70 Grazier Thurleigh Bedfordshire
1911 William Robinson 80 Grazier Thurleigh Bedfordshire

Early in 1950 local residents began to campaign for the creation of a civil parish of Old Stratford. After a public inquiry the county council made an order to establish a parish, with a nine-member parish council and one rural district councillor, consisting of 806 a., taken from Cosgrove, Deanshanger and Furtho. After local objections to the proposed northern boundary of the new parish, an additional area, including Shrobb Lodge (in Deanshanger) and Knotwood Farm (in Furtho), was added to Old Stratford, bringing its size up to 1,334 a., closer to those of adjoining parishes. As modified, the order was confirmed and took effect on 1 April 1951.Seven street lamps on the Cosgrove side of Watling Street, installed in 1949 by Cosgrove parish council, were transferred to the new Old Stratford council.

The Wolverton Express October 20th 1972

Period property – or property … period!
This derelict building is being put up for auction on November 9 and the advertisement board describes it as a period property for conversion.
The house known as Knotwood Farm has been empty for about 20 years and the only sign of life around it has been the occasional tramp using it for a resting place.

STRATFORD
Period Northamptonshire stone farmhouse
suitable for modernisation, with various
outbuildings and 3 acres land.
FOR SALE BY AUCTION
(Unless sold previously by Private Treaty)
at the Cock Hotel, High Street,
Stony Stratford.
at 3 p.m. on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9,
1972

Following our article last week about Knotwood Farm, Old Stratford, being auctioned as a period residence, a correspondent has given me some interesting facts about this ancient building, which has been empty some 10 years.
The deeds date back to 1580 and the farm probably got its name through being an Elizabethan gatehouse to the forest that covered a great part of this area.
Built at the side of the A5 its easy accessibility gave it added importance – not only from an agricultural point of view.
The deeds show that during the 18th century the farm was owned by a succession of Guards officers in London. And there was an equally long list of tenants, all of whom were spinster!
It is understood the reason the farmhouse has been empty for ten years is the delay in finalising plans for the A5 diversion. It is only now that a decision has been made not to use the land for road works that the property can be put on the market.